The Midwife has her Say
I turned in The Midwife’s Confession, my May 2011 book, about a month ago and then waited a few weeks to hear what my editor thought about it. That’s always a nerve-wracking time. A writer’s career is full of waiting to hear what other people think — agents, editors, reviewers, and most importantly, readers. I…
Read MoreDo You Belong to a Book Club?
My neighborhood bookclub met at my house tonight. We meet every other month, which is a very civilized schedule. Sometimes we have “supper club” on the off months, when we get together with our spouses/sig others at one of our houses. It’s a diverse group in terms of age and a lot of fun. It’s…
Read MoreSecret Lives Makes a Comeback
The year was 1989 and I was about to be published for the first time. I was at the notoriously exciting Washington Romance Writers conference in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia where I gave a workshop on Innovative Characterization Techniques, something I still teach, albeit with modifications. Back then, I identified myself as a psychotherapist and…
Read MoreGetting a Book Ready for the E-World
While I was waiting to get feedback from my editor on The Midwife’s Confession, I was not goofing off. Not at all! Instead, I was preparing my third book, Secret Lives, to release as an e-book. It will be available on Kindle in a day or so and is already available on Smashwords. When it’s…
Read MoreHow Do You Like A Story to End?
Ending a story is always a challenge. When I’m starting a book, I often figure out the ending first. It gives me a target–something to aim for as I write. The target often moves as my characters develop and the storyline changes, but that’s okay. If you’re a regular reader of my books, you know…
Read MoreListen to Laurel Speak, Y'all!
Continuing the book info from the United Kingdom, I wanted to share the TV ad my publisher is showing in England for Before the Storm. Before the Storm was released in the UK in May and is doing very, very well there. The story is set in North Carolina and if you’re American, I think…
Read MoreUK Folks and Kids on the Covers
I love my book covers in the United Kingdom. In a couple of cases, I think they’re a tad misleading (Maggie is not a little girl in Secrets She Left Behind, but she was once a little girl, right?) Anyway, misleading or not, I love the unified look my publisher’s created for me across…
Read MoreFather's Day, Don Ho and the Hula
Today is Father’s Day, so I posted this picture of my Dad as my Facebook status. It generated much interest (and a few questions), so I decided to blog about it. My parents, both of whom I lost during this last decade, were . . . unusual. They were a pretty typical mom and dad…
Read MoreBooksigning in Topsail
I had a long but fun day today. I drove three hours to Topsail Island for a signing, then three hours home. It was hard to be in one of my favorite places in the world and not be able to spend more time there, but I have too much to do here at home.…
Read More"Humanity in Orange Shirts"
The best part of being a published author is being able to reach readers far and wide with my stories. Every once in a while, I’m reminded of exactly how far and wide, and it’s always an eye-opener. With their permission, I’d like to share with you some communication I’ve had recently with a not-your-typical-bookclub.…
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